Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his answer and take on board everything he has said. In recent years, however, there has been a clampdown on medical cards for people with disabilities. I am talking about people who are wheelchair bound and have a distinct, severe disability, be it mental or physical.

For example, in the past week I have been contacted by three people, an 18 year old, a 15 year old and a 20 year old, all of whom, despite being medical card holders all their lives, have been denied medical cards. Every year their medical card entitlement is reviewed, they fight their cases and their medical cards are returned. This is an unnecessary and burdensome process on people who already have an awful lot on their plates. I ask that the Minister of State take another look at situations where it has been proven time and again that a medical card has been reinstated so as to ensure people with an obvious and severe medical or mental disability do not have to endure ongoing battles every year to have their medical cards reinstated.

I will bring the cases mentioned to the Minister of State's attention.